[SamuraiProgrammer]

Couslee,

I feel your pain concerning the seemingly random acts of violence (or non violence as the case may be) of the AI that controls combat in multi player games.

---Time Out---

After reading what I wrote and seeing how harsh it may sound, I have inserted this to say "Everything that follows is meant to be helpful and none of it is meant to combative or sarcastic." The written word is soooo different from conversation where body language can soften remarks.

---End Time Out---

I would make this observation, though. "What is fair for the goose is fair for the gander." In other words, this problem is faced by all of those who play multiplayer.

I would also make the following observation. The true art of strategic command involves trying to get your underlings to do what you want. Having a great plan is not always enough. Finding the right set of orders that will allow your underlings to exert intelligent influence on their actions in light of a changing situation while following your orders when it is still right has been the bane of supreme commanders for all of history. Cases in point... McClellan (American Civil War), Patton (WWII), MacArthur (Korea).

I wonder if Swartzkopf considered taking Baghdad when he was ordered to stop?

Learning how to tweak the strategies to get them to do what you want is part of the multiplayer game. I personally always play with simultaneous movement. EVEN if I am playing a single player game. The two ways of playing are very different.

Trying to get all of your assets in the same place at the right time can be frustrating. One trick I have learned is to send some ships a box or two in the wrong direction before sending them where I want them. This allows ships that are a little further away to catch up. Then for the Last half (or so) of the turn, they move together and can support each other.

I have also learned to play with the strategies. You may find the most useful time to be spent on the screen that dictates the amount of damage that should be dealt to a target before ceasing to fire.

Also, if you are using Missile craft to soften planets, you will get surprises because the ships consider a cease fire when the damage gets done. They do not consider how much damage is likely to be done by the missiles that are on the way. Therefore the following happens:

1. Fire Salvo 1
2. Fire Salvo 2
3. Salvo 1 hits
4. Fire Salvo 3
5. Salvo 2 hits
6. Stop firing because another salvo will kill the planet.
7. Salvo 3 hits, planet is destroyed.

This is aggravating to be sure, but all of the players are faced with the same problem.

I encourage you to continue to work on this part of the game. It is, IMHO, the best part. The AI is given artificial bonuses to make it challenging. Humans make the best opponents.

I have been playing multiplayer with a closed group of friends and am about to 'take my lumps' against the experts here. I am sure that I will be at the bottom of the victory list for a while, but think how much fun it will be to improve! These locals had better watch out!

Hang in there, Couslee. It is a bumpy road, but one worth travelling.

Sincerely

Samura Programmer